Jings what happened to 2023? Well it's still here and not over yet, thank goodness! I'm trying to make the most of the forthcoming winter months with a varied selection of events coming up which all promise to be fun.
I've the town wide family attractions Bury Comic-Con where I'm nicely placed in the twon's regimental museum, The Fusiliers alongside Doctor Who and Star Wars actors followed by Thought Bubble in Harrogate, the UK's premier 'pure' comics festival and a great place to discover new works and be suitably inspied, then ending my convention season with the fun packed Steampunks in Space at the National Space Centre in Leicester, a truly 'out of this world' experience!
Links for all can be found on the right so please pop along if you're in the area or need an excuse for a day out, because as someone once said, Winter is Coming!
Really looking forward to a long awaited return to Bristol's Comic Expo this Saturday! This is The comics event from back in the day (was the first in 1999?) which inspired me to make my own comics and put them out there, first fully tabling as an exhibitor in, I think, 2002, after assisting for a bit a Shane Chebsey's Smallzone table the year before.
So, many happy memories and pleased that the guest and exhibitor list includes so many of us who went to those early events and have carried on in the UK comics scene ever since. Just shows the power of comics and following your 'dreams' which can bring great joy and satisfaction if not riches!
The one day event is actually in the same hotel that it moved to all those years ago, so should bring back a few good memories, come and say hi and find out what's changed in the 20 years or so as fittingly I'll have a few more advance copies of my expanded ZULU Water Cart Rescue deluxe hardcover with me, back at the show where it originally debuted!
I'll be in the ballroom, with a bunch of talented folk with guests both there and the Park Suite :)
Well that came and went so quickly! This year's fab Asylum Steampunk Festival just zoomed by but was terrific fun as always! We were based in the Castle Exhibition Marquee this year within the grounds of Lincoln Castle so felt more part of the festival and were certainly more visible compared to last year's prison arrangements which were still fun.
I was delighted that my new full length ZULU: Water Cart Rescue graphic novel arrived in time and had its debut (yes this is the much promised 'Deluxe Edition' with new stories & features etc - watch this space for updates on how to order! :)) and it enjoyed a positive response.
I adapted my Clash of Empires Zulu presentation for the Steampunk crowd, this time called, 'Some You Win, Some Zulus!' to appreciative groans, well I'm sure they were appreciative?
Also David Morris (Time Bomb Comics) and I reprised our successful Penny Dreadful creative art workshop from last year's event with even more takers, fun and amazing headlines and sketches, which sadly I think we forgot to take copies off - ah you had to be there to share the silly splendidness!
I'm short of time (as always) but will attempt to post more pictures from this favourite festival later but in the meantime here's a couple of fab photos of yours truly and Mrs M followed by a great snap by Diana Clark of the aforementioned David Morris with talented artist Paul McCaffrey (Adler, Anno Dracula and Zulu cover artist of course!) and his good lady, Tracey showing some of the finest comics and graphic novels that were available there.
Busy, busy but anyone missing my dulcet tones should listen to Chris Parkinson's interview with me discussing the inspiration and development of my Zulu War Comics! This was our full chat as featured on Chris's You Tube channel as part of the Clash of Empires exhibition.
Download the episode here and check out Chris's library of other interesting military history interviews and discussions and if you've not seen Chris and I's fun video chat here.
Had an absolute blast at the Anglo-Zulu War, Clash of Empires exhibition which still runs to 31st July and well worth a trip if you can. I'll try and write more when time allows but my two visits so far have both been great particularly the 3 day symposium, informative, interesting and fun, catching up with old and new friends alike, even Lady M enjoyed it!
Thanks to all who came and attended my presentation on the 'Water Cart Rescue' comics inspiration and development. I was a tad nervous beforehand with the calibre of earlier presenters and the audience including sundry Professors, Authors, Historians, Military Officers, Serviceman and lots of enthusiastic history and movie fans but talking about my two main passions, Comics n Zulus, soon relaxed me and thankfully, my talk was well received with some great comments afterwards and a nice spike in comics sold, thank you all very much.
All the talks have been filmed and will I understand, be made available on the exhibition's own youtube channel in due course, keep checking it here.
Special thanks to John Freeman of comics news site, Down The Tubes, who gave the exhibition and me a wee plug ahead of my talk, much appreciated!
In the meantime, the hardworking and enthusiastic, Chris Parkinson zipped around doing a few 'on the hoof' interviews for his own excellent Redcoat History channel, which you can find here, including the one above with Tim of the Die-Hards, running through the soldier's campaign kit. Very informative and of course, the Die-Hards themselves have been a constant source of inspiration, support and friendship in my own comic endeavours!
I'm currently set for a third trip there before it finishes, so please treat yourself to a visit if you can, it would be a shame to miss it.
Well this was fun, please check out the excellent job, Chris Parkinson has done of our wee interview chatting about my Zulu Wars comic :)
Also check Chris's own Redcoat History youtube playlists and archives for lots more of Zulu and many other Victorian campaigns, its a real treasure trove of great interviews and historic content you don't find anywhere else, click here for the link or go to my sidebar.
And don't forget that the Clash of Empires Anglo-Zulu War exhibition is now in full swing and is really excellent, if you have any interest in the period or just want to see things you wouldn't normally encounter and chat to folk who are passionate about the history, you don't want to miss out!
Aha, coming round quicker than a fast approaching Zulu impi is the much anticipated Anglo-Zulu War Exhibition, 'Clash of Empires' which opens tomorrow at the Spear Museum of The Royal Philatelic Society in London!
This has been a long road and a real labour of love for everyone involved, but with challenges overcome promises to be very special with the largest public display of artifacts from the period in living memory.
Much more to follow including the special symposium on the middle weekend with loads of authoritative speakers including yours truly making a presentation on my Zulu Wars Comic!
In the meantime, you can find out more and order tickets on their website here , see the youtube channel here and more including a short interview with co-curator, Alex Haimann, at the always excellent Redcoat History channel here
Really looking forward to seeing everything and catching up with many old friends not seen since my last trip to Kwa-Zulu Natal, including this fine looking fellow!
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